Automatic lock



DmV 17, 1946.

A. J. LEONARD AUTOMATIC LOCK Filed Nov. so, i945 3 Sheets-Sheet lATTQENEY Dec. 17, 1946. A. J. LEONARD AUTOMATIC LOCK Filed Nov. 30. 19453 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q ww mw@ m l1 TTOBNEY.

A. J. LEONARD AUTOMATIC LOCK Filed Nov. 30, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet I5INVENTOR. lLaferJlfo/vm e BY Y 'a3 sgs@ T ORNE Y Patented Dec. 17, 1946AUTOMATIC LOCK Albert J. Leonard, Los Angeles, Calif. ApplicationNovember 30, 1945, Serial No. 631,943l

`18 Claims.

Thisjnvention relates generally to the art of locks and latches, andmore particularly to locks of the type embodying a handle movable froman operating position wherein it is accessible for manipulation to openthe closure with which it is associated, to a non-operating positionwherein'the handle may be substantially flush with theV exterior surfaceof the closure.

An'V object of this invention is to provide a lock of the abovedescribed character, which, in association with the door of anautomobile, for example, is automatically operable in response toclosing of the door,to move the outside door handle from its operatingposition wherein it projects from the door for manipulation, to anon-operating position wherein the handle will be substantially flushwith the exterior surface of the door, thus adding to the safety andsecurity of the vehicle by preventing unauthorized persons fromtampering with the handle and possibly breaking off same in an effort toforce the lock; adding to the safety of operation of the vehicle byeliminating dangerous projecting handles which have been the cause ofmany accidents; and enhancing the streamlined appearance of the vehicle.

A further object of this invention is to provide an automaticallyoperable locking mechanism as above set forth, whose handle may bemanually released from its non-operating position and restored to itsoperating position either in response to a manual operation of anactuator on the outside of the door, when the door is unlocked, or bymanipulation of a handle on the inside of the door.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a lock whosecompact and ingenious construction enables it to be installed in doorsof the most modern automobiles projected for future manufacture, thedoor frames of which are intended to be extremely narrow to providevertically sliding windows of maximum width for in-A creased visibilitybetween the hinge and look Stiles of the door, all while retaining theessential qualities of durability, freedom from maintenance, andsimplicity of installation by standard manufacturing practice.

With these and other objects'in view, the invention resides in thecombinations, arrangements and functional relationships of elements asset forth in the following specification and particularly pointed out inthe appendedclaims.

In the accompanying drawings,

f Figure 1 is a view partlyin side elevation and partly in section, ofan automobile door and jarnb, with one form of automatic lockingmechanism embodying this invention installed therein;

Figure 2 is a plan sectional view taken on the line 2 2 of Figure 1, andshowing the door fully closed;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 and showing the door partly open;

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical transverse sectional view taken on theline 4--4 of Figure 1, and showing the outside handle in operatingposition, and the other working parts in the positions they occupy whenthe door is open;

Figure 5 is a vertical longitudina1 sectional view taken on the line5--5 of Figure 4;

Figures 6 and 7 are detail sectional views taken on the lines 6-6 and'l-l of Figure 5, respectively;

Figure 8 is a fragmentaryyertical sectional View taken on the line 8-8of Figure 5, and showing the outside handle moved to non-operatingposition;

Figure 9 is a' view similar to Figure 8 and showing the iinal positionof the parts in the fully closed position of the door, and followingmovement of the outside handle to non-operating position; and

.Figure 10 is a fragmentary bottom plan sectional view taken on the lineIlllll of Figure 9.

Referring speciiically to the drawings, the invention in its illustratedembodiment is: shown installed in a hollow sheet metal doorD of the typeemployed on the most modern pleasure automobile bodies, which issuitably hinged along one vertical edge at H to the jamb J for openingand closing movements and for co-action of its bolt B with a keeper K onthe jamb, it being understood that the usual vertically sliding windowindicated at W inbreken lines in Figures 2 and 3 is of increased widthin accordance with the relatively narrow lock and hinge stiles of thedoor frame, all to the end of providing maximum window area forincreased visibility from the i interior of the body.

For the purpose of this invention the bolt B has a pin-and-slot mountinglli on a support in the form of a U-shaped sheet metal frame H securedin the door D at the lock stile thereof, the bolt projecting throughregistering openings in the frame l and the door for co-action with theconnection l0 in mounting the bolt for reciprocating movement to engageand dlsengage the keeper K when the door is closed. A flat coil springl2 is secured at one end to the bolt B as indicated at I3, and bears at;its other end` against a lug I4 on one end of an S-shaped lever i5mountedv intermediate its ends for pivotal movement about a fixed axison the frame Ii, formed by a pin E6, all in Such manner that the springI2 is adapted to urge the bolt to its projected or latching positionshown in the drawings, as will be later fully apparent.

An inside handle I is fixed to a shaft I1 mounted in an L-shaped bracketI8 secured to the door D at the hingel stile thereof,` andf' xedto.the:y

shaft is an arm i9 having a pin 2B"working in a slot 2i in one end ofthe link 22, the other end of which has a slot 23 in which works a pin'l2li on the bolt B as clearly shown in Figure- 1. A spring 25 normallyurges the arm I3 to the position shown in this iigure, for movement ofthe bolt B by the handle I to-thev retracted or non-latching position ofthe bolt.

An operating member or outside bar handleO of streamline contour hasiixed thereto by screws 35, a hollow shaft SI which projects through anopening 32 in a handle-receiving recess 33- formed in the outside wall34 of the door D, the shaftV being supported by a bearingj 35. fixedtothe frame, l Iby screws Sii. ByV means of' the' bearing 35, the shaft3! is mounted for rotational and axial movement, and isnormally urgedaxially by a coil spring 31 to itsone vextreme or operating positionshown in Figures 3 andii, wherein the handle projects from the recess?33; s0 as'to be accessible for manipulation.

The coil spring 31 ismounted on a stem litrotatably'mounted at. one endin the frame: I I; and projecting into the shaft 3'I to` which it isoperatively connected by a diametric pin 4I' in the shaft passingthrough a longitudinal slot 4-2' in the stem for co-action therewith inproviding a rotatable driving connection between the handle and stem,yet permitting axial movement ofthe handle independently of the stemfrom theoperating position of the handle shown in. Figure" 3, to thenon-operating position of the handle shown Figure-.2,` in whichlatterposition the' handle isdisposedin the recess 33 so as' to be substa'n'ftially iiush with the exterior surface ofthe out# side doorwall 34..

Fixed to the stem 59 by a; pin 53. is-v anarm M adapted'toenga'geioneside of a lug 45'.on the other end ,oi the lever. I5. `Pivoted at 4,5onxthe lever I5 isv a connector lever 41' having a. toe 48 y seating inaxrecessJiS inthe bolt. B. Turning movementV of 'the handle O inaclockwise direc,- tion as viewedv inFigure 1 will cause the arm 4,4' torock` the lever' l5 about the pinA I5. and' push upon. the connectorlever 41' through its pivot lit, for co-action of its toe 38 with therecess149 in moving the; boltV B to its retracted or' non,- latchingposition against the action ofthe spring I2. Thus, will be evidentthatthe bolt can be retracted by either the inside handle 'Il or out-Y sidehandle O independently of'each other.

Adjacent the opening 32, thek outsidezwall` 3A'.

is providedwith an opening receiving' a cylindrical shell 53 having anescutcheon flange' 5I and fitting into a cup-shaped'cylindrical casing e521ixed to the frame II. Axially movable'in the shell 5U is a manualactuator 53V in the form of a ring. having longitudinal slots 511receiving' lugs 55' on. a cylindrical support' 55 in` which. isf xed thebody of.' a-v cylinder lock 511'.

Screws 58 pass through thecasing 52 Vand shellv 55, andare threaded intothe lugs 55 to rigidlysecure the support' 5 and hence the lock body tothe Casing. A stop plate 53a has aforce fitin the actuator 53andisengaged by; aspring 59 which normally urges the actuator axially tothe extreme position shown in the drawings and wherein the actuatorprojects a short distance from the wall 34 for movement inwardly againstthe action of the spring, by pressure ofthe fingers exerted against theactuator. The stop plate 53a has an eccentric slot @il which, in theunlocked position oi' the lock 51, is alined with the locking. lug 3l onthe rotary barrel of the lock 51, so'asto permitthe actuator to bepushed inwardly from its outer extreme position shown in the drawings,to an inner extreme position wherein the lug ti has been received in theslot 30. However, in the locked position of the look 51, the locking lug@I is rotated out of alinement with the slot G3, so that the lug 5I willco-act with thel plate 53a to-lock the actuator in its outer extremeposition, l

Mounted intermediate their ends on a pin projecting from the frame I Iare two crossed and pivoted lockingmernbers or dogs 56 and 55a urgedrelatively in opposite a spring t1, to yieldingly maintain the dogs atonef end in engagement with cams 63- (Figure 7) inthe shape ofVoppositely extending4 oblique surfaces projecting into aslotfiormedin--the actuator 53, the dogs projecting ireelythroughregisteringfslots in the casingV iii!V and shell 55.

At theirxothery ends, the dogs @Gand 53a are curved towards each otherand pass freely through slots 15: in the bearing 35, and are adapted toride on the peripherym` the shaft 3I during axial movement of the latterin moving the handle O from its operating. position shown in rliigures 2and 4, to its non-operating position shown in Figure 8, and to snapintoV an annular. groove 1I: in the shaft 3i under the action of the?spring 31, when the handle reaches its' nonoperatingl position. Y

The inner end of the shaftBI is provided with diametricallyopposedradial shoulders 13 adapted to bek engaged by the spaced parallelarms 14' of ashifting memberor yoke 15, the hub 15ofwhich is'v freelymountedona pin 11 supportedV in agenerally `U,shaped bracket 18 iixedtothe frames! I; A spring 19 connected to a dependingportion 8B of. thebracket 18. and to ani extension SI of the shifting member 15" urgesthelatter to the ex-v treme positionshownin Figures 4 and' 9,whereinone.of theV arms; 14 of the member abats/*a stop 82 on the Abracket1i$(Figure 9):

Projecting from the hub 15Y oi the member 15 is a latching arm 83 havinga notch 8.5 in which is adapted to seat the bill 85 of a connector orpawl S6 pivotally mounted intermediate its end's' on a. pin 81 spanningand supported bythe paralleli arms of a generally H-shaped member 88also freely mounted on the pin 11 between the sides of the bracket 18and the hub 16 of the shifting member 15. A suitable' spring 93 se,-cured: to thev cross arrnofV the member; 83; and. to, the other roundedend of the connector 85, urges the latter in a. direction for thev bill85 to enterl the notch 84' in the latching arm 83, and for the roundedend QI to engagethe dwell and active portions SZ'and 93, respectively,of adisconnector inthe form of a cam iixedV to; the bracket 18, all fora purpose to be later fully'described,`

thedisconnector being designated generally by 95. Connected to. the pinS1 isone; part oi4 ag'two-Y part' universal link95, the other part` ofwhich. is connectedto one arm of a bell crank'lever 8,3; pivotallymounted at S1 on the frame il.. The other: arm of the lever SG'hasa.pinand.slot:con

nection 9'8 withione endof a;push.r.od Seicenstidirections about thepinby' tuting a door-controlled actuator, and reciprocably mounted inbearings on the frame The other end of the rod is mounted in the bracketI8 and projects through the frame of 'the door D, with the outer end ofthe rod having a head IDI. A spring |02 mounted on the rod between oneof the bearings |00 and a shoulder |03 on the rod, urges the rod, andhence the lever 96, link 95, member 03 and the connector 36 carriedthereby, to the extreme .position shown in Figures 3 and 4 wherein thehead |0| projects from the hinge edge of the door D for engage-- mentwith an abutment plate |04 in the jamb J of `the door in the operationof the invention which is as follows: i

Let it be assumed that the door D is open; that the outside handle O isin operating position; and that the lock 5? is unlocked as illustratedin Figures 3 and 4, respectively. As the bill 85 of the connector 36 isseated in the notch 84 of the latching arm 85 in this position of theworking parts, as shown in broken lines in Figure 4, closing movement ofthe door from the position shown in Figure 3 will cause the push rod 99to strike the abutment plate |04 and be moved to the left as thedoor-closing movement progresses. This movement of the push rod willactuate the bell crank lever 95 in a direction for the latter to exert apull upon the link 95 and cause thelatter to swing the member 88 andhence the pawl B6 carried thereby, from the position shown in Figure 4towards the position shown in Figure 8.

As the connector 8B is in latching engagement with the arm 85, theshifting member 'l5 will be moved against the action of its spring 19 ina direction for its arms F4 to co-act with the shoulders 'I3 of theshaft 3| in moving the handle O axially and inwardly of the door D, soas to enter the recess 33 in the latter and be releasably retainedtherein by snapping of the dogs 66 and 66a into the annular groove 1| ofthe handle, during the iinal closing movement of the door, all as shownin Figure 8.

During this movement of the door, the concurrent movement of theconnector 86 from the position shown in Figure 4 to that shown in Figure8, will cause the rounded end 9| of the connector to ride idly on thedwell portion 32 of the cam 34. However, when the door is in proximityto f its fully closed position shown in Figure 2, the rounded end 9| ofthe connector strikes the active portion 93 of the cam, which swings theconnector about the axis of its pivot pin 35 on the member 88 sucientlyfor the bill 85 of the connector to clear the notch 84 of the latchingarm 83 and thus free the latter from the connector, with the result thatthe spring restores the shifting member l5 to its original position, allas clearly shown in Figure 9.

Although theY operative connection between the door-controlled actuator90 and the operating member O is now disrupted, the operating memberremains latched inits non-operating position by the dogs 36 and 66a. Tolock the door in its closed position, it is only necessary to turn thelock 57 to its locking position with the proper key, so as to rotate thelocking lug 6| out of alinement with the slot 60 in the stop plate 530,.to lock the actuator 53 in its projected position against being manuallypressed 'axially inward. The operating member O is inacessible forturning in the recess 33, and there is thus no exposed means which canbe tampered with to open the door. l I

To open the door, the lock 51 is unlocked by the proper key to restorethe alinement of the locking lug 6| with the slot 50 in the stop plate53a, following which inward pressure is manually exerted axially uponthe actuator 53 so as to cause the cams 68 to co-act with the end of thedogs 66 and 50a engagedby the cams, in swing ing the dogs oppositelyabout the axis of the pin E5 and against the action of the spring El,sufficiently for the dogs to clear the annular groove in the operatingmember O, thus rendering the spring 31 free to move the operating memberaxially outward and clear of the recess 33 to its projected andoperating position shown in broken lines in Figure 2. Turning movementof the operating member can now be effected to retract the bolt `B clearof the keeper K.

The door can be opened from the inside even though locked by the lock.5l, as it is only necessary to actuate the inside handle I to retractthe bolt B. It will be manifest that the operating member O can bemanually moved to non-operat ing position when the door is open, shouldthis mode of operation be desired.

It will also be appreciated that the other doors of the vehicle can beequipped with the above described mechanism embodying this invention soas to eiect automatic movement of the outside handles of such doors tonon-operating position in response to closing of the doors.

I claim:

1. In locking mechanism for closures, an operating member for themechanism; means adapted to mount said member on the closure formovement to occupy operating and non-operating positions; means urgingsaid member to 0perating position; means adapted to respond to closingmovement of the closure to move theoperating member to non-operatingposition; and means for releasably retaining' the operating member innon-operating position.

2. In locking mechanism for closures, an operating member for themechanism; means adapted to mount said member on the closure formovement to occupy operating and non-operating positions; means urgingsaid member to operating position; means adapted to respond to closingmovement of the closure to move the operating member to non-operatingposition; means for releasably retaining the operating member innon-operating position; and means for actuating said retaining means torelease the operating member for movement by said urging means tooperating position.

3. In locking mechanism for closures, an operating member for themechanism; means adapted to mount said member on the closure formovement to occupy operating and non-operating positions; means urgingsaid member to operating position; a closure-controlled actuator for theoperating member; means operatively conf-y necting said actuator totheoperating memberV and adapted to respondv to actuation of said actuator-by closing movement of the closure, to move the operating member tonon-operating position; means for disrupting said operative connectionto the operating member when 'the closure is closed; means forreleasably retaining the operating member in non-operating position; andmanually operable means by which said retaining meanscan be.actuated-'to release the op- Y erating member for movement by'saidurging means to operating position. 4. In`locking mechanism forclosures, an operating member for the mechanism; means adaptedtomountsaid member on the closure for movement to occupy operating andnon-operating positions; means urging said member to operating position;means including an actuator adapted to co-act with a relatively fixedsupport in response to closing movement of the closure, to move theoperating member to non-operating position when the closure is` closed;and means for releasably retaining the operating member innon-.operating position.

5. in locking mechanism for closures, an operating member for themechanism; means adapted to mount said member on the closure formovement to occupy operating and non-operating positions; means urgingsaid member to operating position; means including an actuator adaptedto co-act with a relatively fixed support in response to closingmovement of the closure, to move the operating member to non-operatingposition when the closure is closed; means for `re leasing the operating'member from the last means when the operating member has been moved tonon-operating position, so as to f-ree the operating member for movementto operating position by said urging means; means `for releasablyretaining the operating member in non-operating position; and manuallyoperable means for actuating said retaining means to release theoperating member for movement yby said urging y means to operatingposition.

6. In locking mechanism for closures, an operating member for themechanism; means adapted to ymount said member on the closure formovement to occupy operating and non-operating positions; meansincluding an operative connection to said operating member, by which thelatter will be automatically moved to nonoperating position in responseto movement of the closure to closed` position; and means for releasablyretaining said member in non-operating position. Y

'7. In locking mechanism for closures, an operating member for themechanism; means adapted to mount said member on the closure formovement to occupy operating and non-operating positions; rmeansincluding an operative con- Y nection to said operating member by whichthe latter will be automatically moved to non-operating position inresponse to movement of the closure to` closed position; meansco-.acting With the last means to disrupt said operative connection tothe operating member when the latter has been moved to non-operatingposition; and means for releasably retaining the operating member innon-operating position. l

8. In locking mechanism for a hingedly mounted closure having a bolt; anoperating member for the mechanism; means adapted to mount said memberon the closure for movement axially to occupy operating andnoo-operating positions, and for rotation when in operating position toattuate the bolt; an `actuator Aadapted to be movabiy mounted on theciosure for co-atlon With a relatively -iiXed support during closingmovement of the closure; and means operatively connectingsaid actuatorto said operating member, byV

which the latter will be moved 'from operating .f1.0 non-operatingposition in response to movenent of the .closure to closed position.

...n.199 :e mechanism for ahingedly mount-V ed lo'sure.. an operatingmember -ror the mocha,- nl... means adapted to mount said .member on theclosure for movement to `occupy operating and non-oneratine positions;an actuator.; means operatively connecting .Said actuator to said operating member; and means adapted to co-act with said actuator inresponse to closing movement of the closure, to move the operatingmember from operating to non-operating position.

10. In locking mechanism for closures, an operating member having ashaft; means adapted tomountsaid member on the closure for rotation andfor axial movement from operating to nonoperating position; means urgingthe member axially to operating position; a closure-controlled actuator;means adapted to mount said actuator onthe closure for movement; andmeans operatively connecting said actuator to said shaft, by whichmovement of the actuator to one position will move the operating memberfromV operating to non-operating position.

1l.. In locking mechanism for closures, an oper-V ating member having ashaft; means adapted to mount said member on the closure for rotationand for axial movement from operating to non-operating position; 'meansurging the member axially to operating position; an actuator; meansadapted Vto reciprocably mount said actuator on the closure forengagement with the jamb of the closure to be moved thereby to oneextreme position in response to closing of the closure; and meansoperatively connecting said actuator and shaft, by which movement of theactuator to said one extreme position will move `the operating Amemberfrom operating to non-operating position.

12. 1n locking mechanism for closures, an operating member having ashaft; means adapted lto mount said member on the closure for rotationand for axial movement from operating to nonoperating position; meansurging the member axially to operating position; an actuator; meansadapted to reciprocably mount said actuator on the closure forengagement with the jamb of thc closure to be moved thereby to oneextreme position in response to closing of the closure; meansoperatively connecting said actuator and shaft,

, by which movement or" the actuator to said one extreme position Willmove the operating member from operatingrto non-operating position;means co-acting with said shaft to releasably retain the operatingmember in non-operating position; means for disrupting said operativeconnection between said shaft and actuator when-the latter reaches saidone extreme position; and a manually operable actuator operativelyconnected to said retaining means to releasesaid shaft for movement andrestore the operating member to operatingV position under the action ofsaid urging means.

13. In locking mechanism for closures, an operating member having ashaft; means adapted to mount said member on the closure for rotationand for axial movement from operating to nonoperating position; meansurging the member axially to operatingposition; an actuator; meansadapted to reciprocably mount said actuator on the closure forengagement with the jamb of the closure to be moved thereby to oneextreme position in response to closing of the closure; a. pivotallymounted shifting member normally urged in one direction to one extremeposition; said shaft having means co-acting with said shifting member tobe axially moved thereby durv ing movement of the shifting member in theother direction; and means operatively connecting said shifting memberto said actuator, by which movement of the latter to said one eX- tremeposition, will move Ythe shifting member in said other direction toco-act with said shaft Y in moving the operating member from operatingto non-operating position.

14. In locking mechanism for closures, an operating member having ashaft; means adapted to mount said member on the closure for rotationand for axial movement from operating to nonoperating position; meansurging the member axially to operating position; an actuator; meansadapted to reciproeably mount said actuator on the closure forengagement with the jamb of the closure to be moved thereby to oneextreme position; said shaft having means co-acting with said shiftingmember to be axially moved thereby during movement of the shifting membr in the other direction; means operatively connecting said shiftingmember to said actuator, by which movement of the latter to said oneextreme position, will move the shifting member in said other directionto co-act with said shaft in moving the operating member from operatingto non-operating position; said last means including disconnectingmechanism operable when the operating member reaches non-operatingposition, to di."- rupt the operative connection between the actuatorand shifting member so as to permit the latter to return to its urgedposition; and for releasably retaining the operating member innon-operating position when said operative connection is disrupted.

15. In locking mechanism for closures, an 'operating member having ashaft; means adapted to mount said member on the closure for movement tooccupy operating and non-operating positions; means urging said memberto operating position; an actuator; means adapted to mount said actuatoron the closure for engagement with a relatively fixed support to bemoved thereby to one position in response to closing of the closure; apivotally mounted shifting member having a latching arm; means urgingthe shifting member rotatably to one extreme position; a connector;means movably mounting said connector for latching engagement with saidarm and for movement to co-act with said arm in rotating the shiftingmember against its urging means; and means operatively connecting saidlast means to said actuator'` for movement by the latter to effect theaforesaid movement of said operating member to a position `.vherein theoperating member will occupy non-operating position.

16. In locking mechanism for closures, an operating member having ashaft; means adapted to mount said member on the closure for movement tooccupy operating and non-operating position-s; means urging said memberto operating position; an actuator; means adapted to mount said actuatoron the closure for engagement with a relatively fixed support to bemoved thereby to one position in response to closing of the closure; apivotally mounted shifting member having a latching arm; means urgingthe shifting member rotatably to one extreme position; a connector;means movably mounting said connector for latching engagement with saidarm and for movement to co-act with said arm in rotating the shiftingmember against its urging means; means operatively connecting said lastmeans to said actuator for movement by the latter to eiect the aforesaidmovement of said operating member to a position wherein the operatingmember Will occupy non-operating position; means co-acting with saidconnector to move the latter out of latching engagement with thelatching arm when the operating member has been moved to non-operatingposition, so as to permit the shifting member to return to its urgedposition; and means co-acting With said shaft to releasably retain theoperating member in non-operating position.

l'7. In locking mechanism for closures,v`a`n` operating member having ashaft; means adapted to mount said member on the closure for movement tooccupy operating and non-operating positions; means urging said memberto operating position; an actuator; means adapted to mount said actuatoron the closure for engagement with a relatively fixed support to bemoved thereby to one position in response to closing of the closure; apivotally mounted shifting member having a latching arm; means urgingthe shifting member rotatably to one eXtreme position; a connector;means movably mounting said connector for latching engagement with saidarm and for movement to co-act With said arm in rotating the shiftingmember against its urging means; means operatively connecting said lastmeans to saidractuator for movement by the latter to effect theaforesaid movement of said operating member to a position wherein theoperating member will occupy non-operating position; a iixed cam havingan active portion operable to move said connector out of latchingengagement with said latching arm when the operating member has beenmoved to non-operating position; said shaft having a locking groove;locking dogs urged to engage said groove and releasably retain theoperating member in nonoperating position; and a manually operableactuator having means co-actingwith said dogs to disengage the latterfrom said groove and free the operating member for movement to itsoperating position.

18. In locking mechanism for closures, an operating member for themechanism; means adapted to mount said member on the closure formovement to occupy operating and non-operating positions; a manuallyoperable actuator ring mounted for axial movement and urged to oneextreme position; means co-acting with said operating member toreleasably retain the latter in non-operating position; means co-actingWith the last means and actuator ring,`to release the last means fromthe operating member in response to axial movement of the actuator ringin opposition to its urging means; and a lock disposed in said actuatorring in a iixed position on said mechanism and having a rotatablelocking lug; and a stop plate carried by said actuator ring and havingan opening with which said locking lugis aligned or disaligned toaccordingly free the actuator ring for axial movement or lock it againstaxial movement.

ALBERT J. LEONARD.

